EP2288210A1 - Method for establishing a connection between a mobile communication object and a mobile communication network and associated communication object - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves detecting available networks (PLMN21-PLMN23). A preferred network belongs to a lowest rank sub-list among sub-lists (110-1-110-N) of a preferred network list (100) if one of the available networks belongs to and is connected to the preferred network. Availability of new networks is searched if the preferred network among the detected networks belongs to the sub-list whose rank is higher than or equal to 2. One of the networks is connected to the detected network if the network belonging to the sub-list whose rank is less than or equal to 1, is available. An independent claim is also included for a mobile communication object comprising a modem.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of communicating objects, and more particularly to the selection of a network to which a communicating object must connect when it is roaming, especially in the context of the communication between machines (M2M, Machine to Machine).

In particular, the invention applies to communicating objects able to connect to a mobile communication network to access communication services (call, data transfer, etc.). The network is for example a GSM network (for Global System for Mobile Communication, i.e. worldwide system for mobile communication).

More specifically, the invention relates to a means for an operator to choose the network that will use a roaming object according to his preferences. Indeed, roaming service costs depend on the agreements made between the different operators. In the same country, for a given operator, costs can vary from one to two depending on the network on which its roaming customers are connected. For the sake of savings, it must be able to ensure that the communicating object connects only networks that are advantageous to it, and that we will name in the following "preferred networks".

By roaming (or roaming) we will hear later the ability for a communicating object to communicate and access specific services regardless of its geographical position.

Nowadays, a communicating object uses a UICC 2 (Universal Integrated Circuit Card), in whose memory is stored a list of preferred networks which generally comprises a predetermined number of networks preferred by the operator. , ranked in order of preference. When a communicating object goes into roaming, the modem connects to the network best placed in this list among the available networks that it has detected.

If none of the networks detected by the communicating object belong to the UICC 2 list, the communicating object then connects to the network providing the strongest signal, until it loses the signal.

This uncontrolled connection to a network not belonging to the list of preferred networks of the operator may not meet the economic and traffic criteria of the operator.

It is therefore necessary to find a solution allowing the operator to force the network to which the communicating object connects when it is roaming, and to compensate for cases where it does not detect a network present in its list. Preferred networks.

For this purpose, document is known EP 1 463 366 a method of selecting a preferred network to which a communicating object in roaming connects, wherein the operator refuses the connection of the communicating object to a given network when said network is not a preferred network included in the list provided on UICC 2, and forces the communicating object to search for other networks until a preferred network is finally detected.

A roaming user's access to services may be longer than those usually observed because he does not have access to any service during his various connection attempts. Furthermore, after a determined number of failed connections to a preferred network, the modem connects to the network having the strongest signal and accepting the communicating object roaming. The connection is not completely controlled by the operator, which can be detrimental to him in terms of cost and image.

The invention therefore aims to solve these problems by enabling an operator to guarantee that the network selected by the communicating object belongs to the list of his preferred networks.

Another object of the invention is to enable a communicating object to quickly connect to the best available network.

1. 1) détecter des réseaux disponibles ;
2. 2) si l'un au moins des réseaux détectés appartient à la liste, se connecter au réseau préféré parmi lesdits réseaux détectés, ledit réseau préféré étant le réseau appartenant à la sous-liste de plus petit rang ;
3. 3) si le réseau préféré parmi les réseaux détectés appartient à une sous-liste de rang n supérieur ou égal à 2 :
   • i) rechercher à intervalles réguliers la disponibilité de nouveaux réseaux ;
   • ii) si un ou plusieurs réseaux appartenant à une ou des sous-listes de rang inférieur ou égal à n sont détectés comme étant disponibles, se connecter au réseau détecté appartenant à la sous-liste de plus petit rang.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a method for establishing a connection between a mobile communicating object and a mobile communication network, the communicating object having a list comprising a predetermined number of preferred mobile communication networks with which the object may be made to connect, and the list comprising a plurality of hierarchical network sub-lists so that the networks included in a sublist are preferred to all the networks included in the rank sub-lists the method comprising the steps of:

1. 1) detect available networks;
2. 2) if at least one of the detected networks belongs to the list, connecting to the preferred network among said detected networks, said preferred network being the network belonging to the sub-list of smaller rank;
3. 3) if the preferred network among the detected networks belongs to a sub-list of rank n greater than or equal to 2:
   • (i) search at regular intervals for the availability of new networks;
   • ii) If one or more networks belonging to one or more sub-lists of rank lower than or equal to n are detected as available, connect to the detected network belonging to the lowest rank sub-list.

• au cours de la sous-étape 3)ii), on ne compare les réseaux détectés qu'avec les réseaux inclus dans les sous-listes de rang inférieur ou égal au rang de la sous-liste du réseau sélectionné ;
• l'intervalle de recherche de nouveaux réseaux est fonction du rang de la sous-liste ;
• lorsque l'objet communiquant est connecté par défaut à un réseau n'appartenant pas à la liste, seules les utilisations de messages courts et d'appels d'urgence sont autorisées.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of the process according to the invention are the following:

• during the sub-step 3) ii), the detected networks are compared only with the networks included in the sub-lists of rank lower than or equal to the rank of the sub-list of the selected network;
• the search interval for new networks depends on the rank of the sub-list;
• when the communicating object is connected by default to a network not belonging to the list, only the uses of short messages and emergency calls are allowed.

• rechercher les réseaux disponibles ;
• parmi les réseaux disponibles, rechercher le réseau le mieux classé dans une liste comprenant une pluralité de sous-listes de réseaux hiérarchisées ;
• établir une connexion avec le réseau préféré ; et
• mettre en oeuvre à intervalles réguliers une nouvelle détection de réseaux disponibles pour rechercher si un nouveau réseau disponible n'appartient pas à une sous-liste préférée à la sous-liste à laquelle appartient le réseau auquel l'objet est connecté et le cas échéant se connecter au nouveau réseau disponible.

According to a second aspect, the invention proposes a mobile communicating object comprising a modem capable of detecting mobile communication networks available for the establishment of a connection, comprising a modem and a UICC, the modem and the UICC being configured to :

• search for available networks;
• among the available networks, searching for the highest ranked network in a list comprising a plurality of sub-lists of hierarchical networks;
• establish a connection with the preferred network; and
• periodically implementing a new detection of available networks to find out whether a new available network does not belong to a sub-list preferred to the sub-list to which the network to which the object belongs is connected and where appropriate connect to the new available network.

• le modem comporte des moyens permettant d'identifier N-1 balises séparant les N sous-listes ;
• les moyens d'identification du modem sont adaptés pour identifier un identifiant réseau particulier correspondant audites balises ;
• le modem est configuré pour rechercher de nouveaux réseaux disponibles à intervalles réguliers, lesdits intervalles dépendant du rang de la sous-liste à laquelle appartient le réseau auquel l'objet est connecté ; et
• le modem est configuré pour parcourir l'intégralité de la liste.

Some preferred but non-limiting aspects of the communicating object according to the invention are the following:

• the modem comprises means for identifying N-1 tags separating the N sublists;
• the modem identification means are adapted to identify a particular network identifier corresponding to said tags;
• the modem is configured to search for new available networks at regular intervals, said slots depending on the rank of the sub-list to which the network to which the object is connected belongs; and
• the modem is configured to browse the entire list.

• La figure 1 est un diagramme simplifié montrant un objet communicant en relation avec le réseau local de l'opérateur et un ensemble de réseaux détectés lorsque celui-ci est en itinérance ;
• La figure 2 illustre un mode de réalisation possible d'une liste de réseaux préférés selon l'invention, dans lequel la liste comporte N sous-listes de Z réseaux chacune.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting examples and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• The figure 1 is a simplified diagram showing a communicating object in relation to the local network of the operator and a set of networks detected when the latter is roaming;
• The figure 2 illustrates a possible embodiment of a list of preferred networks according to the invention, wherein the list comprises N sub-lists of Z networks each.

According to the invention, and with reference to Figure 1 , a communicating object 1 comprises a UICC 2 and a modem 3 for connecting said object to a mobile communication network (such as a cellular network for example). By way of examples, the UICC 2 can be a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card, a USIM card (Universal Subscriber Identity Module), etc.

The communicating object 1 may be a mobile phone, a car, or any other object comprising a UICC 2 and a modem 3 for connecting to a mobile network.

When the communicating object 1 is not roaming, it is connected to the local network 10 of its operator.

On the other hand, when the communicating object 1 is roaming, the modem 3 searches for an available network among the set of detected networks PLMN _20,1 , PLMN _20,2 , PLMN _20,3 . The method according to the invention therefore aims to enable the communicating object 1 to choose among the detected available networks PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , or PLMN _20.3 which is preferable for the operator.

As shown on the figure 2 on the UICC 2 is recorded a list 100 grouping a set of preferred networks of an operator in order of preference of the operator.

The list is divided into a finite number N of hierarchical sub-lists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ,..., 110 _N , preferably at least two sublists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , grouping the preferred networks of the operator into according to predetermined criteria.

The sublists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N are ordered relative to each other, their order being determined by their rank n, where n is between 1 and the total number N of component sublists the list 100.

In the following, the smaller the rank n of the sub-list 110 _n , that is, the higher the rank n of the sub-list 110 _n is close to 1, and the more the networks included in the sub-list 110 _n -list 110 _n will be preferred by the operator.

We will present a way to construct the list 100 and its sub-lists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N by the operator.

An operator has a fixed number of networks for each geographical zone where a communicating object is supposed to be able to move while retaining the possibility of accessing communication services.

Let Z be the number of these geographical areas.

By increasing the number of preferred networks PLMN _ny (where n = 1 ... N and y = 1 ... Z), the chances of having a preferred network available are increased.

It will be noted here that the programming of the modem 3 present in the communicating object 1 must take into account this feature of the list of networks 100 recorded on the UICC 2. If the network list 100 is actually larger, then the behavior of the modem 3 must be adapted so that it can manage it.

The PLMN _ny are then ranked in order of preference by the operator. The order of preference is determined according to criteria specific to the operator, such as the rates charged by the operator, the services offered by each network, their overall availability, coverage, etc.

For Z geographical areas, therefore, an initial list with Z network rankings is obtained, the number of preferred PLMN networks may vary from one geographical area to another.

Sub-lists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ,..., 110 _N are then constructed from this initial list.

According to this embodiment, the sub-list 110 ₁ of rank n = 1 is the preferred sub-list of the operator, and comprises at least one preferred network for each geographical zone.

In the example of the figure 2 each sub-list 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N has only one PLMN network _nz per geographic area.

The sub-list 110 ₁ of rank n = 1 therefore comprises the preferred network PLMN _1y of each geographical area, and thus groups Z networks.

The sub-list 110 ₂ of higher rank n = 2 is then constructed from the networks which have not yet been classified in the initial list: it thus comprises the preferred network among the remaining networks of the classification of each geographical zone.

The set of sub-lists 110 _n of rank n are thus constructed from the networks remaining in the initial list after the construction of the n-1 sub-lists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ,..., 110 _n-1 previous to that there is no more network in said list. The sub-list 110 _N of rank N thus has the least advantageous PLMN networks _Ny for the operator among the preferred networks included in the initial list. It should be noted that the sub-list 110 _N of rank N does not necessarily include a network by geographical area if the network rankings by geographical areas do not initially include an equal number of networks.

Moreover, it is envisaged alternatively not to include in each sub-list 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N an equal number of PLMN networks _ny per geographic area, this number of networks per geographic area may depend on several criteria such as, in particular, the size of the geographical area, the total number of networks preferred by the operator, the types of services offered to a user of the communicating object 1, or the type of communicating object 1.

Thus, we obtain a list 100 of preferred PLMN networks _ny ordered in order of operator preference into a finite number N of sublists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N , in which the PLMN networks are _not included. in a sub-list 110 _n of rank n less than or equal to N-1 are all preferred by the operator to all the networks included in the sub-lists 110 _{n + 1} , ..., 110 _N whose rank is greater than or equal to n + 1.

In known manner, each PLMN network _ny is identified by a unique identifier encoded on five bytes, the first three corresponding to the code of the geographical zone MCC (for Mobile Country Code) and the two last corresponding to the code of the network (for Mobile Network Code ) in this MNC geographical area.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the list 100 further comprises N-1 PLMN tags ₀₀ separating the N sublists 110 ₁ ,..., 110 _N , each tag being for example encoded in the same way as an identifier of network. The modem 3 is then adapted to detect these tags.

The list 100 therefore comprises N-1 tags PLMN ₀₀ separating the N sublists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ,..., 110 _N of preferred networks PLMN _ny .

It will be seen in the following that such a separation simplifies the possible updates of the list by the operator, can influence the behavior of the modem 3 and avoid unnecessary waste of time.

We will now describe a method of selecting a network to which the communicating object 1 can connect.

During a first step, it is determined in known manner whether the communicating object 1 is roaming.

When the communicating object 1 is roaming, it is then detected, via the modem 3 present in the object 1, all the PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 available networks relating to the location of the said object 1.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the manual selection, ie by the user of the communicating object 1, of a detected available network PLMN _20,1 , PLMN _20,2 , PLMN _20,3 , is deactivated .

An application is provided in the modem 3 enabling it to scan all the PLMN _ny networks of the list 100 and to determine if at least one detected network PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 belongs to said list 100 of preferred networks PLMN _nz .

Thus, if at least one PLMN network _ny belongs to the list 100 of preferred networks, the application selects, among this set of available detected networks PLMN _20,1 , PLMN _20,2 , PLMN _20,3 , that which belongs to the sub-list 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N of the smallest rank.

According to a preferred embodiment, the application selects the network which is further classified as being in this sublist 110 _n, the preferred PLMN _ny among the detected networks PLMN _{20.1, 20.2} PLMN, PLMN _20.3 , for this geographical area.

This selection is simplified in particular by the presence of PLMN tags ₀₀ which clearly define the boundaries between each sub-list 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ , ..., 110 _N and which allow the modem 3 not to waste time in the search. In fact, for the sake of saving time, the modem 3 preferably scans the sublists 110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ,..., 110 _N in order of increasing rank, and stops scanning as soon as it encounters a sub-list. -list 110 _n including one of the available networks detected PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 . By building list 100 of preferred networks PLMN _ny , the first network encountered will necessarily be the preferred network of the operator among those detected PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 . This avoids scanning the entire list 100 unnecessarily when a sublist 110 _n including one of the detected networks has been identified.

The modem 3 then connects to the network selected by the application.

If the network belongs to the sub-list 110 ₁ of rank n = 1, that is to say the sub-list preferred by the operator, the communicating object 1 remains connected to this PLMN network _1y as long as the connection is not interrupted and remains roaming in the geographical area associated with this network.

The modem 3 no longer performs new network searches, since the PLMN network _{1y to} which the communicating object 1 is connected is optimal for the operator, which also saves the battery of the communicating object 1 and the network resources of the operator.

If the selected network belongs to a sub-list of rank n greater than 1, the modem performs an audit (or refresh) of the available networks.

This refresh is operated at regular intervals by the modem 3. The refresh interval can be specified by the UICC 2.

Alternatively, the refresh is remotely triggered by OTA, UICC 2 or any other known means.

During these refreshments, the communicating object 1 remains connected to the previously selected network.

The new detected networks are then compared to the preferred networks included in UICC list 100.

In an advantageous embodiment, the modem 3 only compares the detected networks with the preferred networks included in the sub-lists 110 ₁ ,..., 110 _n-1 of networks whose rank is lower than the rank n of the sub-list. -list 110 _n including the selected network. The comparison step is then faster, and also saves the battery of the communicating object 1.

Of course, if the sub-list 110 _n comprising the selected network includes several preferred networks for the geographical area in which the communicating object 1 is located, the modem 3 also compares the detected networks with the networks included in said sub-list 110 _n and preferred to the selected network.

If at least one network belongs to one of the sub-lists 110 ₁ , ..., 110 _n-1 (110 _n ) of rank lower (or equal) to the sub-list 110 _n of rank n including the network currently selected, the application selects from among all these networks 110 ₁ , .... 110 _n-1 that which belongs to the sub-list of the smallest rank among these sublists 110 ₁ , .... 110 _n-1 (110 _n ) of rank lower than or equal to n.

According to a preferred embodiment, the application selects the network which is furthermore classified as being, within this sub-list, the preferred network among the networks detected for this geographical zone.

This newly selected network is then preferable for the operator to the previously selected network, since it belongs to a sub-list of lower rank, or at least it is better classified within the sub-list 110 _n of rank n .

The method is then repeated until the selected network is the preferred network among all the preferred networks PLMN _1y for the geographical area in which the communicating object 1 included in the sub-list of rank n = 1 is located. .

It will be noted that, as the refreshments proceed, the modem 3 compares the detected networks with fewer and fewer networks, since the number of sub-lists 110 ₁ ,..., 110 _n examined is reduced to each new selection of preferred network.

Moreover, since the communicating object 1 remains connected to the network selected during refreshments, and despite the fact that said selected network is not optimal for the operator, the search for networks is transparent to the user of the object communicating 1, since it is implemented automatically and without intervention on its part and it does not interrupt any of the communication services in progress: it does not interfere anyway the user of the communicating object 1.

Advantageously, for the sake of transparency for the user, the network change takes place only when the user stops using the services of the communicating object.

According to a preferred embodiment, the refresh is performed at regular intervals, preferably according to the rank n of the sub-list 110 _n included the network selected at the time of said refresh.

Advantageously, the larger the rank n of the sub-list 110 _n , the more the refreshments are performed at close time intervals defined in the UICC 2, in order to increase the chances for the operator of detect and quickly identify a network ranked higher in the list of networks 100 and thus reduce the costs incurred by the connection.

For example, if the selected network belongs to the sub-list 110 ₂ of rank n = 2, the time interval can be up to 8 hours, whereas if the selected network belongs to the sub-list 110 _N of rank n = N, it can be of the order of ten minutes only.

In addition, the operator can associate all or part of the sub-lists 110 ₁ ,..., 110 _N of the particular actions. For example, the operator can make some of the services unavailable for networks belonging to given sub-lists.

Thus, the operator can decide to make available only the SMS (Short Message Service) channel for the networks belonging to the sub-lists 110 ₃ ,..., 110 _N of rank greater than or equal to 3.

In the case where none of the detected networks PLMN _20,1 , PLMN _20,2 , PLMN _20,3 belong to the list 100 included in the UICC 2, the application connects by default to a detected network, for example the network whose signal is the strongest, that is to say the network whose reception by the communicating object 1 is the best.

It will be noted that such a case is marginal insofar as, in the context of the invention, the list 10 included in the UICC 2 comprises a very large number of networks, advantageously of the order of several hundred.

According to one possible embodiment, when the communicating object 1 is connected to this default network, only one technical channel (OTA) is open. Emergency calls are also allowed.

The user can not then for example use the data transfer or call services. This ensures that the cost and the traffic generated by the connection to this network not preferred by the operator are controlled.

A new list of preferred networks can however be sent to UICC 2 by OTA. The list 100 included in the UICC 2 can therefore be remotely updated at any time by the operator, in particular according to the OTA technology, and independently of the position of the communicating object 1.

These updates can relate to all or part of the list 100, add new sub-lists, complete existing sub-lists 110 ₁ , ..., 110 _N , etc.

Partial updates are also facilitated by the presence of PLMN ₀₀ tags.

It is then possible to repeat the method of selecting a network according to the steps described above with respect to this new updated list.

If, as a result, the modem 3 still does not detect a network included in the new list, it remains connected to the default network, and reiterates the selection process at regular intervals until it detects a preferred network.

Claims (9)

A method of establishing a connection between a mobile communicating object (1) and a mobile communication network, the communicating object having a list including a predetermined number of preferred mobile communication networks (PLMN _ny ) with which object (1) can be made to connect, and the list comprising a plurality of sub-lists (110 ₁ , ..., 110 _N ) of networks (PLMN _ny ) hierarchized so that the networks (PLMN _ny ) included in a sub-list (110 _n ) are preferred to all the networks included in the sub-lists (110 _{n + 1} , ..., 110 _N ) of higher rank, the method comprising the steps of: 1) detect available networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ); 2) if at least one of the detected networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ) belongs to the list (100), connect to the preferred network (PLMN _ny ) among said detected networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ), said preferred network being the network belonging to the sub-list (110 ₁ , ..., 110 _N ) of smaller rank; 3) if the preferred network among the detected networks belongs to a sub-list of rank n greater than or equal to 2: (i) search at regular intervals for the availability of new networks; ii) If one or more networks belonging to one or more sub-lists of rank lower than or equal to n are detected as available, connect to the detected network belonging to the lowest rank sub-list. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that during the sub-step 3) ii), the networks detected are compared only with the networks included in the sub-lists (110 ₁ , ..., 110 _n ) of rank lower than or equal to the rank of the sub-list (110 _n ) of the selected network. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the search interval of new networks is a function of the rank (n) of the sub-list (110 _n ) _. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein when the communicating object (1) is connected by default to a network not belonging to the list (100), only the uses of short messages and emergency calls are allowed. Mobile communicating object (1) comprising a modem (3) adapted to detect available mobile communication networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ) for establishing a connection, comprising a modem ( 3) and a UICC (2), characterized in that the modem (3) and the UICC (2) are configured to: - search for available networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ) - among available networks (PLMN _20.1 , PLMN _20.2 , PLMN _20.3 ), search for the highest ranked network in a list (100) comprising a plurality of sub-lists (110 ₁ , ..., 110 _N ) hierarchical networks (PLMN _ny ), - establish a connection with the preferred network and - periodically implementing a new detection of available networks to find out if a new available network does not belong to a sub-list preferred to the sub-list to which the network belongs to which the object (1) is connected and if necessary connect to the new available network. Mobile communicating object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the modem comprises means for identifying N-1 tags (PLMN ₀₀ ) separating the N sublists (110 ₁ , ..., 110 _N ). Mobile communicating object (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the modem identification means are adapted to identify a particular network identifier corresponding audit tags (PLMN ₀₀ ). Mobile communicating object (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the modem (3) is configured to search for new available networks at regular intervals, said intervals depending on the rank of the sub-list to which belongs the network to which the object (1) is connected. Mobile communicating object (1) according to one of 5 to 8, characterized in that the modem (3) is configured to traverse the entire list (100).

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